Its About Thyme
Thyme is an all-star herb stemming from the mint family with a rich history in culinary arts, medicine and spiritual practices. Thyme has thick stems with small fragrant leaves that have a subtle, dry aroma and a slight minty flavor.
Thyme is a perennial herb with a long history of use by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks for a wide variety of purposes, including embalming, as incense, to ward off evil spirits and as gifts that were believed to confer courage. Native to Asia, the Mediterranean region and southern Europe, its flowers, leaves, and essential oil are used today for medicinal and culinary purposes.
Thyme has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and has been used to ease chest congestion, sore throat, gas, indigestion, as a mild diuretic and to stimulate the appetite. Since thyme has antiseptic properties, it can be applied topically to minor cuts and wounds and to toenails to address toenail fungus. Thymol, which accounts for around 47% of its aromatic oil content, has potent antioxidant activity, and may help prevent tooth decay when used as part of a mouthwash – it is a constituent in many commercial mouthwashes. Additional benefits of thyme may be in lowering blood pressure, mood enhancement, skin conditions, and possibly even helpful with certain cancers.
Herb / drug interactions & Safety:
Thyme is thought to be generally very safe and there are no issues with Thyme as food. With extracts and essential oils however there are a few cautions to note. Thyme may slow blood clotting when taken in therapeutic amounts, and should not be used in conjunction with medications or natural products that do the same. As a precaution, pregnant women should not use the herb. Due to its blood thinning effects, people who are scheduled for surgery should not take thyme, except in food, for at least two weeks prior to surgery to avoid complications.
Thyme for some good food
Thyme is a wonderful ingredient that’s used in cuisines around the world, particularly in France, Italy, and across the Mediterranean. We are fans of using thyme in our cooking - you will see it in many of our recipes. We enjoy it fresh, and it is generally one of the easiest herbs to grow – if you don’t have the garden space, keep a little thyme in a pot on the windowsill.